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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Anzhor Azhiev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Iain James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Iain James was going to win. Let's see if he was right.
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| 177 cm
30
144 lbs
12 - 43 - 0 |
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185 cm
28
150 lbs
5 - 15 - 0 |
BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin |
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BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Knockout power |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of
12 - 43 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Anzhor Azhiev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
5 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Iain James!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Johanna Lukiainen and Marco Blurström.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Azhiev tries to keep at a distance but James has taken the fight into the clinch.
James lands a knee to the body.
Azhiev tries to pull guard but James won't allow it.
James has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Azhiev uses from the top position.
James looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Azhiev trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Azhiev avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Azhiev drops back, looking for a kneebar! James looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. James looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from James!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
James is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Azhiev is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Azhiev sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Azhiev looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Azhiev is breathing heavily.
James is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Azhiev sees it coming and defends easily.
Azhiev looking to force a kimura from the bottom here. He's concentrating on that move too much though and James pushes past his half guard into mount!
James is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Azhiev is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
James is standing up, even though he is in mount.
Azhiev shoots for a takedown but James saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
James lands with a thumping leg kick.
James's jab looks to have found its range, popping Azhiev under the eye.
James has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Azhiev is landing a low percentage of strikes.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
James has taken the fight to the clinch.
James lands an elbow inside that Azhiev shrugs off.
James cracks Azhiev with a nice body shot.
Azhiev fails to pull the fight into his guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anzhor Azhiev. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Azhiev tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
James has clasped his hands together around Azhiev's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
James working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Azhiev is looking for a sweep.
James has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
James rushes Azhiev and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
James pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
James lands with a thumping leg kick.
James pushes Azhiev up against the cage in a clinch.
Azhiev jumps guard but James stands there with Azhiev around his waist. Azhiev gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
James creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Azhiev's defenses.
A nice glancing elbow lands by James.
Azhiev tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
James manages to pull guard.
James had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Azhiev defends it easily.
James looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Azhiev avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
James had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Azhiev defends it easily.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Azhiev trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Azhiev advances to half guard.
James is trying to stand.
Azhiev is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, James has managed to free his arm - good work.
Azhiev is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
James is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Azhiev pulls his head out easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Iain James dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.
Azhiev tries to keep at a distance but James has taken the fight into the clinch.
James pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
James has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Azhiev shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Azhiev tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but James swivels and escapes.
James clinches up with Azhiev and pushes him back against the cage.
James lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
James breaks from the clinch.
Azhiev is on the wrong end of a nice combination from James.
James moves into the clinch.
Azhiev tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. James smiles and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anzhor Azhiev. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Azhiev tries to keep at a distance but James has taken the fight into the clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
James lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Azhiev jumps guard but James stands there with Azhiev around his waist. Azhiev gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
That's one minute gone in the round.
A right hand to the body from James.
Nice body punch from James.
James unloads a knee to the mid-section.
A shot in the inside from James.
James utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
James has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Azhiev regains guard immediately.
James slips nicely into half guard.
James stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
James instigates a clinch.
James pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
James scores with a nice body kick.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
James thumps Azhiev with a low kick.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
James gets in close and instigates a clinch.
James lands with a short shot to the head.
Azhiev tries to pull guard but James won't allow it.
Azhiev tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. James just stands there and leans against the cage.
Azhiev fails to pull guard.
A left hand lands to the body for James.
Azhiev takes an elbow to the temple.
James lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. James obliges.
James throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
James pulls guard.
Azhiev trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
James is working actively from the bottom, looking for submissions. He's escaped his hips to the side and he's going for an armbar! Azhiev has his hands clasped together but James extends and breaks Azhiev's desperate grasp, forcing a tap out due to armbar! Nice BJJ displayed there by James.
Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:55 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Iain James!
Anzhor Azhiev spoke after the fight, saying 'I still want that title shot. Im the most experienced fighter here and everyday wants to see me smash the champ so lets do it whenever he starts ducking me.'.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
60% |
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